Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria sent Max Holloway a warning after UFC 300.
Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) claimed the BMF title with an iconic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was in attendance and seemed stunned after Holloway delivered the spectacular finish. However, he welcomes “Blessed” as his next title challenger.
“Honestly, I’m very happy because we just saw Holloway win, so I just realized that I will have two belts instead of one,” Topuria told ESPN Deportes. “I think it’s clear now. We have the next battle. It will be against Max Holloway. … Let’s see. Nothing concrete, but there was a good chance that if he emerged victorious from the octagon, he could be next. I’m not sure if he’s injured. I hope not, so he can come back soon and we can fight.”
Unlike most, Topuria was not too impressed with Holloway’s finishing.
“Well it was good, nothing special to be honest,” Topuria said. “The ending was just an exchange of punches without any strategy, both just punches. Without any defense, and things like that can happen, but that would never happen to me.
Topuria also made sure to remind Holloway that while it took him less than two rounds to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway couldn’t beat him after three tries.
“(Max) talked a lot during the week,” Topuria continued. “It’s normal. It’s what he has to do. He has to believe that he is the best. It cannot be otherwise in this sport, but the results are clear. I did in nine minutes (against Alexander Volkanovski) what he didn’t do in 90 minutes. So he can say what he wants, enjoy now and prepare for what is to come. He can’t change that.
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s events hub for UFC 300.
The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
